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Our Team

Our Team

Stratos Safioleas
Stratos Safioleas, Ph.D., is the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s Director of Communications and Senior Advisor to His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America.
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What Stratos Covers

At the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Stratos has spearheaded a comprehensive renewal of the communications operation. He leads strategy that spans media relations, public outreach, digital innovation, crisis management, institutional messaging, and he directs the Orthodox Observer. With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, the Archdiocese’s communications now extend beyond traditional borders, engaging issues where faith meets community relations, technology, history, and socio-economic life.

Stratos’s Background

With more than two decades of international experience, Stratos has advised leaders at the highest levels of government, sport, and global institutions. He served as international media spokesperson for the Athens 2004 Olympic and Paralympic Games and has been a senior communications strategist for Olympic bids and organizing committees in London, Chicago, PyeongChang - Seoul, Madrid, Rome, Almaty, and Paris.

Beyond the Olympic politics sphere, Stratos has counseled presidents and CEOs of multinational organizations on communications, crisis management, and digital media strategy. He has served as a consultant to the World Bank in Washington, D.C., and as a Senior Advisor at the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Athens. Electrical Engineer by training, Stratos also taught in the graduate program at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where he earned his Ph.D. in Technology Policy and Engineering Management.

Stratos’s Mission

Stratos views the Church as an essential voice in contemporary society, whether one is Greek, Orthodox, or simply seeking meaning. Grounded in theology, history, and the radiant legacy of the Byzantine Empire and the Hellenic world—its art, music, and culture—the Church offers wisdom that speaks powerfully to today. 

For Stratos, the Communications Department must not only inform, but inspire: serving as press office, crisis response team, and publishing house, while also helping to shape messaging and contribute to strategy in service of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and the Holy Eparchial Synod’s vision.


His mission is to ensure that the Archdiocese communicates with excellence and purpose—reaching hearts and minds with the confidence, depth, and clarity worthy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, while standing alongside the most respected institutions in one of the world’s foremost metropolises, headquartered in New York City.

Marissa Papageorge-Costidis

Marissa Papageorge-Costidis is Head of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s Press Office.

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What Marissa Covers

As Head of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s Press Office, Marissa is responsible for day-to-day correspondence and coordination between the Department of Communications and the Archdiocese’s other departments, ministries, Metropolises, parishes, clergy, and affiliates, as well as outside media and press. Marissa also serves as a staff writer for the Orthodox Observer, and enjoys telling stories that honor and uplift the commitment of her fellow faithful to their Greek Orthodox tradition.

 

Marissa’s Background

Marissa was born and raised in Monmouth County, New Jersey, and now resides in Middletown after having spent several years immersed in the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Ithaca College, where she minored in Radio/TV and Photography, later completing a certificate in Non-Profit Management.

Over the course of nearly four decades with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Marissa has produced more than 125 video projects and has been honored with numerous awards, including Emmy Awards in Outstanding Religious Programming for her work on “A Light Still Bright” and “Iakovos: A Legacy.”

For Marissa, serving the Archdiocese remains the honor of her life. She is married and the proud mother of two sets of adult twins, all of whom are active members of the Church.

 

Marissa’s Mission

Marissa seeks to share stories that inspire and affirm the Church’s relevance in contemporary society. For her, faith and heritage are not simply subjects of interest, but the very fabric of both her life and work. With decades of experience and a deep reservoir of institutional knowledge, Marissa leads with both insight grounded in tradition and a forward-facing vision. Marissa has built a career doing what she loves, in service of the Church and culture she holds most dear.

Corinna Robinson

Corinna Robinson, M.T.S., is the Orthodox Observer’s Managing Editor, overseeing newsletter and website publication, article assignments, and content production.

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What Corinna Covers

Corinna leads the editorial direction of the Orthodox Observer across platforms, including the newsletter, website, and social media. Her responsibilities include researching, curating, and assigning stories, while also serving as the team’s copyeditor. Corinna also serves as a staff writer, and enjoys opportunities to highlight the diversity of Greek America, particularly in Appalachia, the South, and rural areas of the West.

 

Corinna’s Background

Growing up across the U.S. and Europe, Corinna was immersed in a range of Christian traditions, sparking an early interest in theology. She earned a Bachelor of Arts with Honors from Florida Southern College, where she studied how faith shapes literary expression, and later completed a Master of Theological Studies at Harvard Divinity School, with dual concentrations in New Testament/Early Christianity and Women, Gender, Sexuality, and Religion. Her research included Eastern Orthodox theology, liturgical service, and iconography. Corinna’s time in intentional communities continues to inform her interest in how spiritual, social, and ecological consciousness are intertwined.

 

Corinna’s Mission

Corinna is inspired by her patron saint, Mother Maria of Paris, whose theology was made manifest by her courageous, clear-sighted advocacy. Seeking to live her faith through words and witness, she strives to tell the stories of our Greek Orthodox community with integrity and compassion. Corinna holds dear the legacy of the women who have gone before her–especially those who proclaimed the Resurrection on the first Pascha and those who continue to proclaim truth, beauty, and justice in our Church today.

Salvatore Ambrosino

Salvatore Ambrosino is a Digital Media Coordinator managing the social media presence of the Orthodox Observer.

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What Salvatore Covers

Salvatore manages the social media presence of the Orthodox Observer as well as His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. In addition to monitoring social media readership and engagement, in this role he works to syndicate the stories of Orthodoxy in the U.S. and abroad. Salvatore also serves as a staff writer, producing  journalism on religion that explores how faith and communal expressions of belief engage with humanitarian crises. 

Salvatore’s Background

A Floridian, Salvatore grew up where expressions of faith can be found everywhere from billboards to backroad shrines. He attended Florida Southern College, a small liberal arts school, where he received an undergraduate degree in English. There, he developed a critical reporting style and became the managing editor of the college newspaper. As an undergraduate, he also served as an intern for Beacon Press, contributing to book-banning awareness campaigns and increasing the accessibility of critical non-fiction.

Salvatore’s Mission

Salvatore aims to expand the Orthodox Observer’s reportage to encompass the Greek Orthodox faith’s comprehensive anthropology. Recognizing that Christ is “everywhere present and filling all things,” he, like our readers, is navigating the modern confluence of digitalism and lived theology through his work at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

Sara Tsugranis
Sara Tsugranis is a Staff Writer for the Orthodox Observer contributing community profiles on parishes and people.
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What Sara Covers

Sara is responsible for producing profiles on parishes and people, highlighting extraordinary work done in the spirit of Orthodoxy and Hellenism. Connecting with faithful across the nation, her research and interviews educate our readers about the vast diversity of ministry, thought, and experience within our Archdiocese and the broader Orthodox community.

Sara’s Background

Born in New York City with a New Jersey upbringing and time spent living in three of the city’s boroughs, Sara is among the team’s New York natives. She completed her undergraduate degree at Fordham University, where she studied Political Science with minors in Orthodox Christian Studies and Medieval Studies. At Fordham, she received acclaim for her academic ability, recognized with the Fr. John Meyendorff Undergraduate Achievement Award for Academic Excellence in Orthodox Christian Studies.

Currently, she works part-time at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America while completing her Juris Doctor at New York Law School. While pursuing her law degree, she has also interned with Judge Clynes in the New York County Supreme Court Civil Term; taught introductory legal concepts to incoming ninth graders in the Bronx; and served as events chair for New York Law School’s Hellenic Law Students Association.  

 

Sara’s Mission

Sara believes stories are a vital method of inspiration, showing individuals that they are not alone in their faithful works and ministry. She is dedicated to increasing connection in the Greek American and Orthodox communities, and is particularly passionate about exploring how we can live our faith in ways that uplift neighbors and strangers.

Claire Koen

Claire Koen, Ph.D., is a Communications Researcher for the Orthodox Observer focusing on theology and artificial intelligence.

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What Claire Covers

Claire facilitates the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Theology working group, in which an interdisciplinary group of professionals discusses the implications of AI for human flourishing. She also conducts research and interviews for the Orthodox Observer, enjoying the unique privilege of witnessing the stories of our Archdiocese’s faithful. Claire is particularly passionate about sharing stories that reckon with anti-Black racism in present-day Orthodox parishes and communities. 

 

Claire’s Background

After completing a Bachelor of Arts at Marian University and both a Master of Theological Studies and Master of Theology at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, Claire completed her Ph.D. in Judaism and Christianity in Antiquity at Fordham University. She wrote her dissertation on the emergence of the Aithiopian demon trope in the Coptic writings of the Desert Fathers, for which she was the recipient of a National Endowment for the Humanities Dissertation Completion Grant in Orthodox Christian Studies. Her research interests continue to include papyrology, cultural influences on morality, and the wild and wonderful writings of the Desert Fathers. Now residing in Newport, Rhode Island, Claire works as a Visiting Assistant Professor in Religious and Theological Studies at Salve Regina University. 

 

Claire’s Mission

In her work at the intersection of AI and theology, Claire aims to study and guide others in exploration of the key issues of theological anthropology: who are we in relation to God? How does our relationship with the environment reflect our theology? What do our assumptions about artificial intelligence tell us about our underlying beliefs about human intelligence? Do our reactions to AI reflect Orthodox theology?

Ben Malian
Ben Malian is a Contributing Writer for the Orthodox Observer focusing on ecumenical affairs and Orthodox Christian environmentalism.
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What Ben Covers

After beginning his work at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America as a Communications Intern, Ben Malian now works for the Orthodox Observer as a Contributing Writer. Currently a Master of Theological Studies candidate at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Ben is interested in faith and ecology, religious education, and Orthodoxy in the public square. Often contributing pieces on ecumenical affairs and Orthodox Christian environmentalism, he enjoys writing stories that explore how the Orthodox faith inspires us to engage perceptively and prophetically with the contemporary world. 

 

Ben’s Background

Originally from Macomb, Michigan, Ben grew up attending Assumption of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church in St. Clair Shores. In addition to completing an undergraduate degree in International Relations at Michigan State University, Ben has spent several years working in community design and sustainable agriculture, including four growing seasons on an organic farm. At HCHC, he also works as a Graduate Assistant at the Huffington Ecumenical Institute, where he supports the Institute’s mission of exploring and addressing contemporary social challenges faced by the Orthodox Church as well as other religious traditions and scientific disciplines.

 

Ben’s Mission

Ben hopes that his work will encourage others to “come and see” both the ancient beauty and abundant life of the Orthodox Church.

Lina Thoma
Magdalini “Lina” Thoma, Ph.D., is the translator for the Orthodox Observer, providing primarily from English into Greek and, when required, from Greek into English translation services.
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What Lina Covers

Lina translates Orthodox Observer articles and produces our Greek-language newsletter, ensuring that the Archdiocese’s stories and announcements reach Greek-speaking audiences with clarity, accuracy, and cultural fluency, from translation through publication.

 

Lina's Background


Lina holds a degree in Greek Philology from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and a Ph.D. in Modern Greek Literature from the University of Ioannina. As an Erasmus scholar, she also pursued postgraduate studies at the University of Paris-Sorbonne and the National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations. Her teaching career in Modern Greek language and literature has spanned secondary and tertiary institutions across Greece, France, Italy, and Estonia. Since 2020, she has been affiliated with the Volos Academy for Theological Studies, where she has published and lectured on the prose of the renowned Greek writer Alexandros Papadiamantis and the poetry of the contemporary Greek poet Michalis Ganas while also translating announcements, addresses, and articles of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Lina is also a novelist and translator in her own right, having authored three novels and a short-story collection, and co-translated an anthology of Estonian poetry as well as works of Estonian prose into Greek.

 

Lina’s Mission

Lina’s mission is language. Aware of the significance of the work and witness of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the spiritual and cultural heart of the Greek-American community, she seeks to bring its message to Greek-speaking audiences in a way that preserves not only its meaning but also its cultural and historical context. The translation of Orthodox Observer articles into Greek on such a broad scale is a pioneering undertaking. Translation, in this sense, is not merely the transfer of information from one language to another; it is a creative act of cultural mediation. It carries the life, ministries, and daily experiences of the Archdiocese into another linguistic and cultural world, creating, in a sense, a cultural return journey between Greece and the Greek-American experience. Her aim is to render these stories in a language that is vivid, accessible, and contemporary, while remaining attentive to the cultural nuances and traditions embedded in the original text.

Amelia Antzoulatos
Amelia Antzoulatos is a Contributing Writer for the Orthodox Observer focusing on Eastern Orthodox political theology.
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What Amelia Covers

A current candidate for a Master of Arts in Religion at Yale Divinity School, Amelia previously worked as a Communications Specialist for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. She studies Eastern Orthodox political theology, i.e. how the tradition’s history and theology relate to the state and sociopolitical movements. For the Orthodox Observer, she now contributes pieces during large-scale events such as the biannual Clergy-Laity Congress.

Amelia’s Background

After growing up in New Jersey, Amelia graduated from Fordham University with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Religious Studies. She also participated in the International Summer School of Science & Religion at the Orthodox Academy of Crete (sponsored by the National Hellenic Research Foundation) and currently serves as an Associate Editor for Jacob's Well magazine (OCA). Amelia spends her free time in pursuit of a good cup of coffee; she also enjoys reading, making music, and collaging. 

 

Amelia’s Mission

Amelia is curious about how Orthodox Christians understand their religious, cultural, and/or political identities, and how these understandings shift in the context of the diaspora. How does this self-perception affect how Orthodox faithful relate to their neighbors–both those most and least like them–and how they find and define community? Through her work, Amelia seeks to increase knowledge about political and social organizing, as well as to make contributions to interfaith, ecumenical, and cross-cultural relationship-building. 

Brittainy Newman

Brittainy Newman is a Contributing Photographer for the Orthodox Observer.

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What Brittainy Covers:

As a photojournalist for the Orthodox Observer, Brittainy documents liturgical life, high-profile events and meetings, and quiet, everyday community scenes with a commitment to storytelling that is both human and universal. Often covering the pilgrimages, community visits, and Archpastoral leadership of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, she captures visual stories that make complex issues personal. Brittainy is drawn to stories that challenge assumptions, uncover overlooked perspectives, and shed light on how individuals navigate struggle and transformation. 

Brittainy’s Background

A native New Yorker and a graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology’s photojournalism program, Brittainy began her career as a photography fellow at The New York Times. She has since become a frequent contributor, with twelve front-page covers for the paper. Her work is internationally-recognized, including in The New York Times’s “Year in Pictures” and the Associated Press’s “A Year That Changed Us.” She has received honors such as the College Photographer of the Year’s Gold award in multimedia, Photo Boite’s “30 Under 30” recognition, and a selection for the Eddie Adams Workshop. 

 

Brittainy’s Mission:

As a photojournalist, Brittainy seeks not only to inform but to create images that resonate. Viewing her camera a both a tool of witness and a bridge to understanding, she is drawn to the ways in which photography preserves fleeting moments of connection. Brittainy aims to produce work that provokes deep reflection, builds empathy, and preserves moments of truth that might otherwise go unseen.

Kevin Whitmer
Kevin Whitmer is a Communications Consultant for the Orthodox Observer and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s Department of Communications.
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What Kevin Covers

Kevin launched his digital media and strategic communications consulting firm in January 2022, building on his experience in media, marketing and audience development. Today, Whitmer Consulting works with clients in a diverse range of industries, from trade groups and unions to transportation companies and contractors.

 

Kevin’s Background

Prior to launching his own business, Kevin spent thirty-six years as a journalist in New York and New Jersey, the final twelve as lead editor of The Star-Ledger and NJ.com. The organization’s watchdog and high-impact journalism has won three Pulitzer Prizes, 23 New York Emmy Awards and virtually every award that recognizes excellence in news, sports and business coverage. 

 

Kevin’s expertise in digital media and real-time audience behavior helped build NJ.com into one of the country’s largest local news and information websites, now reaching 20+ million unique visitors every month. In fact, at the end of 2021, NJ.com had built a digital audience larger than the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Boston Globe–combined. 

 

Kevin carries a deep understanding of marketing, audience-building and consumer behavior. He also prides himself on an ability to move and mix comfortably in any room and any situation, a skill sharpened by thirty-plus years of newsroom management, most of those years coming during the greatest transformation media companies have ever experienced. As his organization’s lead editor, he was trusted with making potentially life-altering coverage decisions daily. 

 

Kevin’s Mission

As a consultant, Kevin uses his skills as a journalist to learn about each client – their needs, their goals and their blind-spots. He focuses on attainable solutions and how each organization can use data to track results. He is also a detail-oriented project manager, known for keeping his clients on track and always moving toward their goals and targets.